World Cup 2022: France v Poland, remember summer 2021
Les Bleus take on Robert Lewandowski's Poland on Sunday afternoon in the round of 16 at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
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Rarely has a World Cup been so open. All the favourites dropped points in the group stage. And several outsiders showed that over one match, any prediction can be upset. Japan, for example, beat Spain (2-1) and Germany (2-1), Saudi Arabia shocked Argentina; Cameroon beat Brazil; Morocco finished top ahead of Croatia and Belgium; and Tunisia beat France's ''Bleus'' (1-0).
Les Bleus wary
So, as they prepare to face a Poland side who disappointed in the group stage in the round of 16, Les Bleus remain wary. Especially as a little over a year ago, when they were heavy favourites at Euro 2020, they were knocked out by Switzerland despite leading 3-1.
Didier Deschamps has not forgotten and is staying on his guard. "We have to respect what this team does, they deserve to be here. Szczesny has been decisive. My players know there will be resistance. They have plenty of attacking weapons to cause opponents problems. This team has been forced to defend in the first three games, to defend a lot, and they defend very well. They like it, they even love it. But we shouldn't limit them to that. They have a hard core of players with good international experience. There's Szczesny, Glik, Lewandowski. And some young players too, who have responded", the French coach, the 2018 world champion, explained.
Mbappé in great form
For now, what 'Lewangaolski' and his team-mates are showing is nothing special. They have just two goals in three outings. That is as many as Olivier Giroud. And one fewer than Kylian Mbappé. The PSG star is in resplendent form. A far cry from Euro 2020, a tournament that went wrong for him in every respect.
"Relieved" of Karim Benzema, who withdrew just before the start of the World Cup, Kyky is taking all the limelight in attack. And he loves to shine when all the spotlights are on him. The key figure in the win over Australia (4-1), he laid the ghost of Denmark (2-1), who were starting to look like Les Bleus' bogey team. This afternoon, he will surely want to send Les Bleus into the quarter-finals, where they would await the winner of England v Senegal.